Even though it feels like electronic music has been around forever, EDM as we know it only took the world by storm in the past decade. Think of major festivals, like Tomorrowland, Ultra, EDC, where artists like Calvin Harris, David Guetta, and The Chainsmokers have dominated headline spots since many of you readers were still in elementary school.

Within the sea of high-energy music, there’s one subgenre that's become almost as recognizable as EDM itself: tropical house .

You’ve probably heard it. Maybe in the elevator at a seaside hotel, at a rooftop brunch, or even in the background of a travel vlog. Its chill vibes and sun-kissed melodies are hard to miss, but after all this time, you might still be asking, “So, what exactly is tropical house?”

In this guide, I want to get into it. From its origins to some of the biggest current artists making it, I'm going to break down everything you need to know about tropical house music and how it found its way to the top of the charts.

What Is Tropical House Music?

Funny enough, the genre wasn’t even supposed to be a “thing” at first. Back in the early days, a 20-year-old Australian producer named Thomas Jack casually threw out the term as a joke to describe his breezy, feel-good sound. The idea of “tropical house” just stuck, and soon enough, everyone started calling it “trop house” (which, for the record, has nothing to do with “trouse” music, which is a mix of trance and house).

But what gives tropical house its own flavor?

Compared to regular house, which often leans on slightly darker, sparser instrumentation and more intense drum grooves, tropical house dials things down a bit.

You’re looking at slower tempos, usually around 100-115 BPM , and a vibe that feels like it’s on permanent vacation. Some of the main instruments you might hear include steel drums, marimbas, saxophones, and flutes. Think sounds that transport you straight to a sandy beach somewhere, even if you’re currently sitting in Brooklyn in the the midst of winter like me.

Where Did Tropical House Come From?

While Thomas Jack might have tossed out the term, he’s not the only one responsible for turning tropical house into a global phenomenon. It took a whole squad of young producers, most of whom, ironically, don’t come from anywhere tropical. Most actually come from Northern Europe and the Nordic countries.

Kygo , the Norwegian producer who’s basically become the face of tropical house, is the real heavyweight here. He hit millions of streams while still in his early twenties and quickly caught the attention of Ultra Records.

His rise over the past decade has been massive. He has headlined major festivals, remixed for artists like Ed Sheeran, and released chart-topping hits like "Firestone" and "Stole the Show."

Fun fact: he’s actually classically trained.

Of course, while Kygo might wear the crown, he’s not the only one.

German producer Felix Jaehn broke through with his remix of OMI’s “Cheerleader,” which hit No. 1 in over 20 countries. Since then, he’s built an impressive portfolio of upbeat, tropical-influenced tracks that blend pop and house in a way that’s become irresistible to tropical house music fans.

Some of the other early pioneers include LCAW , Klingande , Autograf , and Bakermat , who each brought their own twist to the tropical house sound, helping launch the genre into the mainstream.

What are the Main Elements of Tropical House?

Tropical house is a subgenre of house music.

Like house, it’s got a steady four-on-the-floor beat and plenty of synth-driven instrumentation . However, it also has it’s own unique flair with all of the 'summer vibes'.

Tropical house tends to be a bit slower than your average EDM track, sitting comfortably around 100-115 BPM, and this slower tempo is actually what makes it perfect for leaning back and sipping a piña colada, not raging.

From there, producers will add tropical elements, such as steel drums, marimbas, flutes, trumpets, saxophones, and all the instruments that make you think of beach sunsets and palm trees. There’s also a focus on warm, lush synth pads and gentle, high-frequency plucky melodies.

Sometimes, trop house DJs will add vocals to their tracks. These vocals are usually smooth, laid-back and 'airy' sounding. The lyrics tend to focus on themes like love, freedom, travel, and escaping the everyday. Tropical house's popularity has always rested on its sense of easygoing bliss.

Unlike some electronic dance music tracks, where vocals are chopped and looped into oblivion, tropical house tends to keep vocals more pop-friendly, letting the lyrics and melodies take the spotlight.

As for where you'll often hear tropical house music, it's usually in poolside playlists, beach bars, background music in clothing stores and even big-brand commercials .

Top Tropical House Artists

Kygo

Let’s kick things off with the undisputed king of tropical house: Kygo. Hailing from Norway, this classically trained pianist turned producer brought tropical house to the forefront and gave it a face. Kygo first burst onto the scene with his remix of Ed Sheeran's "I See Fire," which blew up online and set the stage for his unique sound to reach a global audience.

His original singles "Firestone" and "Stole the Show" practically defined tropical house and launched him straight into stardom. “Firestone” alone has over a billion streams.

Klangkarussell

Klangkarussell is an Austrian duo made up of Tobias Rieser and Adrian Held. They started coming up back in 2011, though it was their 2012 single “Sonnentanz” that put them on the map.

“Sonnentanz” went big internationally, charting in countries across Europe and beyond. It hit the Top 10 in the UK, Germany, the Netherlands, and Austria, and even cracked the Top 20 in several other countries.

Sam Feldt

Next up is Sam Feldt, the Dutch DJ and producer who’s added his own feel-good twist to tropical house. He started out remixing tracks and sharing them online, quickly building a following for his instant summer anthems.

One of his biggest hits to date his track “Post Malone” featuring RANI, which has racked up hundreds of millions of streams and become a go-to track on tropical and chill playlists everywhere.

Klingande

French producer Cédric Steinmyller, better known as Klingande, kicked off his career with a love for melodic house and a talent for the piano and saxophone.

His breakout hit, “Jubel,” is a prime example, which features an infectious saxophone riff and all of the good vibes you'd expect from tropical and Caribbean music.

Alex Adair

Alex Adair is a British producer who got his start by remixing popular tracks and sharing his versions online. His remix of Ed Sheeran’s “Thinking Out Loud,”  however, is the one that really caught everyone’s attention.

He injected some energy into the track making it more suitable for beach parties than a quiet afternoon at home.

Bob Sinclar

Let’s take it back a bit with Bob Sinclar, the French DJ, producer, and legend who was making tropical house music long before it had a label.

Sinclar got his start in the ’90s, though he really broke out internationally in the 2000s with hits like “Love Generation” and “World, Hold On.” These tracks, though not necessarily labeled tropical house music, had the same warmth and positivity that would later define the genre.

Where Does the Future of Tropical House Lie?

Though we can trace tropical house back to the roots of electronic dance music as a whole, it's really only made its mark over the past decade. In a way, it's almost starting to die out and make room for other subgenres that share tropical house elements, such as slap house and deep house.

However, it's safe to say that it's made its mark on electronic music just as much as dubstep or trance, and may just have a resurgence sometime in the near future.